Gettering structure

ABSTRACT

A non-evaporating getter device and composition and process for producing such which is optionally heatable employing a getter material comprising at least one non-evaporable getter metal preferably selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ta, Hf, Nb, Ti, Th and U in intimate mixture with a zirconium-aluminum alloy.



1. A GETTING STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A. A SINTERED PARTICULENON-EVAPORABLE GETTER METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ZR,TA, HF, NB, TI, TH AND U, B. A PARTICULATE ZIRCONIUM-ALUMINUM ALLOYCOMPRISING 5 TO 30 WEIGHT PERCENT ALUMINUM BALANCE ZIRCONIUM WHEREIN THEPARTICLES OF THE ZIRCONIUM-ALUMINUM ALLOY ARE LARGER THAN THE PARTICLESOF THE NON-EVAPORABLE GETTER METAL AND ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THENON-EVAPORABLE GETTER METAL WHEREIN THE WEIGHT RATION A:B IS FROM 19:1TO 2:3 AND WHEREIN SAID PARTICLES OF ZIRCONIUM-ALUMINUM ALLOY AREGENERALLY SPACED OUT OF CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER.
 2. A getteringstructure comprising: A. a sintered particulate non-evaporable gettermetal, selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ta, Hf, Nb, Ti, Th andU, B. a particulate zirconium-aluminum alloy comprising 5 to 30 weightpercent aluminum balance zirconium wherein the particles ofzirconium-aluminum alloy are larger than the particles of thenon-evaporable getter metal and are distributed throughout thenon-evaporable getter metal, wherein the sintered non-evaporable gettermetal has a surface area after sintering substantially equal to itssurface area prior to sintering wherein the weight ratio A:B is from19:1 to 2:3 and wherein said particles of zirconium-aluminum alloy aregenerally spaced out of contact with each other.
 2. the compositionexhibits a compressive strength of at least 300 kg/cm2,
 3. A getteringstructure comprising: A. particulate zirconium, the particles of whichpass through a U.S. standard screen of 200 mesh per inch, B. aparticulate alloy of 84 weight percent zirconium and 16 weight percentaluminum, the particles of which pass through a U.S. standard screen of60 mesh per inch and are retained on a U.S. standard screen of 100 meshper inch with the provisos that:
 3. the total surface area of thezirconium particles after sintering is equal to at least 95% of theirsurface area before sintering;
 4. the particles of zirconium are incontact with one another,
 4. A gettering structure comprising: A.sintered particulate zirconium, B. A particulate zirconium-aluminumalloy comprising 5 to 30 weight percent aluminum balance zirconiumwherein the particles of the zirconium-aluminum alloy are larger thanthe particles of zirconium and are distributed throughout the particlesof zirconium in an amount such that the particles of zirconium-aluminumalloy are generally spaced out of contact with each other.
 5. Agettering structure comprising: A. sintered particulate zirconium, B. aparticulate zirconium-aluminum alloy comprising 5 to 30 weight percentaluminum, balance zirconium wherein the particles of thezirconium-aluminum alloy are larger than the particles of zirconium andare distributed throughout the particles of zirconium wherein the weightratio A:B is from 19: 1 to 2:3 and wherein said particles ofzirconium-aluminum alloy are generally spaced out of contact with eachother.
 5. the particles of the alloy are distributed evenly throughoutthe particles of zirconium,
 6. the particles of the alloy are generallyspaced out of contact with one another,
 7. the weight ratio of A:B is10:1 to 1:1.